LETTERS; Lingering Anger Over the Gates Case

Published: August 4, 2009

To the Editor:

Re ''Anger Has Its Place'' (column, Aug. 1):

I am writing in strong support of Bob Herbert's column. As a social worker and a resident of Cambridge, I agree that anger does indeed have its place, as Mr. Herbert asserts. I was angry and appalled to hear this story as it first broke, and knew (as Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. said) that it would not go away. Nor should it go away.

Although we may like to deny it, especially in our progressive city of Cambridge, we are still very much a racist society. The statistics Mr. Herbert cites about the disproportionate number of people of color in our criminal justice system clearly support this. In my work with students, many of whom have done internships in such agencies over the years, I see this as well.

I think President Obama was right on target when he first said that the Cambridge police ''acted stupidly.'' It is nice that subsequently they all sat down over a beer, but people, especially people of color, still have a right to be angry. Very angry. Helen Glikman

Cambridge, Mass., Aug. 1, 2009

The writer is an assistant professor of social work at Salem State College.

To the Editor:

I fully agree with Bob Herbert that ''black people need to roar out their anger ... lift up their voices and demand change.'' The racial aspect of this issue must be forcefully discussed.

But can we also expand this contemplation beyond the scope of race to acknowledge that this is also about power, and that there are those in this world in certain positions, whether it be a police officer, mayor or executive, who require, first and foremost, deference, and who will abuse that power if the expected deference has not been received? Elizabeth Sabo

New York, Aug. 1, 2009

To the Editor:

Self-responsibility is the cornerstone of a civilized society. When people act responsibly, they are generally treated responsibly regardless of their skin color or social standing.

When a uniformed police officer asks you to ''please step outside,'' there can be only one responsible reply: ''Yes, Officer.'' That moment was the tipping point and indeed the tripping point of the social interchange between Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sgt. James Crowley. Obviously, both men tipped and tripped.

This ''teachable moment'' is not about militant anger. This ''teachable moment'' is about responsible behavior.

Miles E. Kuttler

Aventura, Fla., Aug. 1, 2009

To the Editor:

What so many people are missing in the Henry Louis Gates Jr.-James Crowley brouhaha is that this is not a black versus white issue. This is a private citizen versus police officer issue.

Cops don't like flak from anyone, black or white. That's what this contretemps is about, and that's the problem that needs to be addressed.

Sharon Kapnick

New York, Aug. 1, 2009

To the Editor:

Of the various methods of complaining about arbitrary harassment and false arrest suggested by Bob Herbert, lawsuits are by far the best and most effective. Making the police department and especially the offending officers financially responsible for their oppressive methods will work wonders in reducing them.

Would that there be a pro bono cadre of lawyers to assist the victims of such outrageous policing.

Bruce Kerievsky

Great Neck, N.Y., Aug. 1, 2009

To the Editor:

While Bob Herbert implores African-Americans to ''roar out their anger'' at being disproportionately stopped by police, I'd offer another suggestion: Encourage African-Americans and other people of color to seek out careers in law enforcement.

As a Latino and a former New York City assistant district attorney, I firmly believe that minorities need to join law enforcement agencies. Systemic change will come about only when ''we'' follow the likes of President Obama, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. and Judge Sonia Sotomayor and bring our points of view and life experiences to the table.

Luis Serrano

Bronx, Aug. 1, 2009

To the Editor:

Bob Herbert writes that ''black people need to roar out their anger'' at being arrested because they are black. Shouldn't we all roar?